Why does Metro charge us "rush hour" rates, even when single-tracking or experiencing long delays and malfunctions?
I entered Metro Center at 5:40 p.m. yesterday, and the electronic signs said the next train to Glenmont would be 5 minutes. It stayed that way for 20 minutes, then showed "2" for another 10 minutes, then went blank. Meanwhile six trains going toward Shady Grove zoomed in and out of the station on the opposite side, while hundreds of people accumulated on the Glenmont side. Finally, a Metro announcement was made that the next Glenmont train was "approaching Farragut North," the next station to the northwest. That train finally showed up, displaying "No Passengers" signs (it did have a few people on board) and did not stop. New announcement: "The next train to Glenmont is leaving Farragut North" and it arrived at 6:20 pm - but could only accommodate a portion of the huge crowd that had been waiting on the platform for 40 minutes or more. I arrived at Takoma station at 6:40 pm, a full hour after entering the system for my 20-minute commute. The fare? "Peak of the peak" rush-hour, $3.10 vs.the $2.60 i should have been charged, for non-peak service after 6pm. This is insult to injury!

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